Virajpet: Operation to drive three wild tuskers back into forest to continue
Forest officials in Virajpet are continuing an operation to drive three wild elephants back into the forest following a fatal attack on a plantation worker. The operation has led to the imposition of prohibitory orders in 11 villages to ensure public safety and facilitate the movement of the animals.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the escalating human-wildlife conflict in India, raising concerns about safety for rural workers and the effectiveness of current forest management strategies.
The operation to capture three wild tuskers in Virajpet taluk, which began on Tuesday (August 18), will continue on Wednesday (August 19) as forest officials could not drive the elephants back into the forest during the dawn-to-dusk exercise.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Abhishek said the operation to drive the elephants back into the forest would resume on Wednesday (August 19).
Several villages in the taluk are gripped by fear of elephant attacks following the death of a plantation worker on Monday (August 17). Gopal, a migrant worker from West Bengal employed at Ghattadalla Coffee Estate, was killed in the attack in Maldare, while another worker sustained injuries.
The incident triggered anger among co-workers and local residents, who staged a protest in Siddapur. They alleged that such incidents were occurring regularly and accused the Forest Department of failing to take adequate measures to address the human-elephant conflict.
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